Float mount coaxial connector

Abstract

A coaxial connector includes inner and outer contact assemblies. The outer contact assembly includes a base securely mounted to a circuit board and a floating outer contact that can move both axially and radially relative to the base. The inner contact assembly includes a plunger connected to a signal carrying circuit element on the circuit board in a manner that permits transverse float. The inner contact assembly further includes a receptacle that can slide axially relative to the plunger. Annular insulators are disposed between the inner and outer contact assemblies. Additionally, resilient O-rings are provided between the inner and outer contact assemblies for urging the receptacle of the inner contact assembly in a mating direction relative to the plunger.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A coaxial connector assembly for connection between first and second substantially parallel circuit boards, said first circuit board having a first signal carrying circuit element disposed thereon and a first ground, said second circuit board having a second signal carrying circuit element thereon and a second ground, said assembly comprising: 
       a guide sleeve connected to said first ground and projecting from said first circuit board, said guide sleeve defining a selected inside diameter;  
       an outer contact assembly having a generally tubular base connected to said second ground circuit element and projecting from said second circuit board, a generally tubular floating outer contact movable axially and radially relative to said base, portions of said floating outer contact spaced outwardly from said base defining an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said guide sleeve;  
       an inner contact assembly disposed within said outer contact assembly and including a receptacle and a plunger movably axially relative to one another, at least one of the plunger and the receptacle being movable radially with the floating outer contact, the inner contact assembly having opposed first and second axial ends;  
       annular insulators disposed between the inner and outer contact assemblies for maintaining a spaced relationship therebetween; and  
       at least one resilient O-ring between the inner and outer contact assemblies for permitting axial float of the receptacle relative to the plunger of the inner contact assembly while biasing the first and second axial ends of the inner contact assembly against the first and second signal carrying circuit elements.  
     
     
       2. The coaxial connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve has an outwardly tapered entry at an end thereof spaced from said first circuit board, and wherein the floating outer contact of the outer contact assembly includes a chamfered end remote from the second circuit board, the chamfered end of the floating outer contact being engageable with the outwardly tapered entry of the guide sleeve for generating radial float of said floating outer contact relative to said guide sleeve. 
     
     
       3. A coaxial connector comprising: 
       an outer contact assembly having a generally tubular base and a generally tubular floating outer contact movable axially and radially relative to the base;  
       an inner contact assembly disposed substantially centrally within the outer contact assembly and including a receptacle and a plunger movable axially relative to one another, at least one of the plunger and the receptacle being movable radially with the floating outer contact;  
       a plurality of annular insulators disposed between the outer contact assembly and the inner contact assembly for maintaining a spaced relationship therebetween, and  
       at least one resilient O-ring disposed between the inner and outer contact assemblies for permitting axial float of the receptacle relative to the plunger of the inner contact assembly, while biasing the receptacle and the plunger towards an extended position.  
     
     
       4. The coaxial connector of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one resilient O-ring comprises a plurality of resilient O-rings. 
     
     
       5. The coaxial connector of  claim 3 , wherein the base of the outer contact assembly includes a plurality of lands for secure connection to conductive regions on a circuit board. 
     
     
       6. The coaxial connector of  claim 3 , wherein the base of the outer contact assembly further includes a plurality of pins for passing through holes in a circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The coaxial connector of  claim 3 , wherein the plunger of the inner contact assembly includes a substantially planar mounting end, and wherein the receptacle of the inner contact assembly includes a substantially planar mounting end aligned substantially parallel to the mounting end of the plunger. 
     
     
       8. The coaxial connector of  claim 3 , further comprising biasing means between the base and the floating outer contact of the outer contact assembly for biasing the floating outer contact into an extended position relative to the base thereof. 
     
     
       9. The coaxial connector of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring washer.